Electric grain elevator chute indicator



Nov. 15, 1955 R. LARSEN 2,724,110

ELECTRIC GRAIN ELEVAIOR CHUTE INDICATOR Filed July ll, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1L I N VEN TOR.

ATTCI R N EYE f Nov. 15, 1955 R. LARSEN 2,724,110

\ ELECTRIC GRAIN ELEVATOR CHUTE INDICATOR Filed July ll 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

ATTCI RN EYE United States Patent 2,724,110 ELECTRIC GRAIN ELEVATOR CHUTE INDICATOR Rolland Larsen, Sibley, Iowa Application July 11, 1951, Serial No. 236,238

1 Claim. (Cl. 340-282) This invention relates to electric indicating devices of the type used in combination with conveying machinery and equipment, and in particular an indicating device having a plurality of lights in combination with contact points for indicating the position of a chute extended from the upper end of a grain elevator whereby an operator at the lower end or boot of the elevator may readily determine over which bin the chute is positioned.

The puipose of this invention is to provide means in an elevator having a chute actuated by a crank for determining when the chute is in position over the center of a bin so that the chute may be accurately positioned over bins by an operator located at a remote point.

Where grain elevators are used in combination with a battery of bins it is necessary to shift the chute from the elevator to the dierent bins, particularly as the bins are filled or where it is desired to deposit different grains in the bins and when the chute is shifted from one bin to another it is necessary to reset the chute at the upper end of the elevator. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a shaft having a crank on the lower end thereof positioned on the side of an elevator and operatively connected to a chute whereby the chute is turned with the crank, and in combination therewith a plurality of contacts positioned to be engaged by a contact arm of a spindle in a casing similar to a motor vehicle distributor whereby with the contact points connected in circuits to lights, the circuits are completed to the lights as the outer end of the chute arrives at a predetermined point, such as in the center of a bin.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for indicating the position of the outer end of a chute of a grain elevator whereby an operator can tell when the outer end of the chute is in position over a bin or the like.

Another object of Vthe invention is to provide an electric indicating device for grain elevators that is adapted to be used in combination with elevators now in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chute indicating device for grain elevators that lights a light when the chute is in operative position over a bin, which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a grain elevator, a plurality of bins positioned around the elevator, a chute extended from the upper end of the elevator to a position over one of the bins, means shifting the chute from one bin to another, a battery of lights corresponding with the bins, a plurality of Contact points corresponding with the lights and connected by circuits to the lights and to a source of current supply and a contact arm actuated by means for adjusting the position of the chute whereby a light corresponding with a bin is supplied with current to light the light as the chute arrives at a desired position over the bin.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

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Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an elevator showing a chute extended from the upper end thereof and also showing a plurality of lights with wires connecting the lights to a distributor and in which a wiring diagram is included illustrating the means for connecting the lights to the distributor.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the elevator shown in Figure 1 illustrating the chute extended to a bin and having parts broken away showing the means for driving the contact device.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the distributor.,

Figure 4 is also a plan view of the distributor showing the contact points in the upper end thereof and with the cap omitted.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the distributor taken on line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail showing one of the blocks for mounting the contact arms on the inner base of the distributor.

Figure 7 is a detail showing one of the contact arms of the distributor.

Figure 8 is a detail showing a spring for urging one of the contact arms of the distributor inwardly toward the rotating contact.

Figure 9 is a detail showing the wires of the distributor extended through a single opening in the side of the base whereby the wires extend to the lights through a single conduit.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved elevator chute indicator of this invention includes a distributor housing 10 having a rotor 11 mounted on a shaft 12 therein with a contact arm 13 of insulating material mounted on the upper end of the shaft, a cap 14 held by spring clips 15 to the housing, a battery of lights 16, connected by wires 17 to contact arms or members 18 in the distributor housing, a shaft 19 having a crank 20 on the lower end and a chute 21 extending downwardly from the upper end of an elevator 22.

An inner base 23 having an annular ange 24 on the upper edge is secured to the main base 25 of the housing 1t) by screws 26 and, as illustrated in Figure 5 the contact arms 18 are positioned on the flange 24 through blocks 27.

The blocks 27 are provided with slots 28 that t over the upper edge of the ange 24 and these blocks are secured in position by set screws 29 that are threaded in openings 30 in the ends of the blocks. The screws 29 are positioned to register with an opening 63 in the side Wall of the distributor housing, as shown in Figure 5, to provide access to the users. The blocks are also provided with slots or slits 31 in which ends 32 of the contact arms are secured by pins 33 which extend through openings 34 in the arms and openings 35 and 36 in the blocks.

The contact arms 18 are provided with adjusting screws 37 that bear against the edge of the member 11 on the upper end of the shaft 12 and these arms are urged inwardly to engage a contact 38 of the arm 13, by springs 39. The springs are secured to the arms 118 by screws 40 which extend through openings 41 in the springs and are threaded in openings 42 in the arms. The springs are also provided with openings 43 that are positioned to receive the adjusting screws 37.

The contact arm 13 is also provided with a contact piece 45 that is mounted on the contact 38 by a spring 46 and the spring is held in position by a screw 47'. The Contact 45 is positioned to engage a contact 48 on a stem 49 that extends through a hub 50 in the upper end of the cap 14 and the contact wire 51 extends from the end of the stem 49. The wire 51 extends to a battery 52 and from the battery current is carried by a wire 53 to one terminal of the light 16, the opposite terminal of the light being connected by the wire 17 to the contact arm 18.

The shaft 12 of the distributor 10 is rotated by a sheave 54 from a sheave 55 on the shaft 19 by a cable or belt.

The shaft 19 is journaled in bearings 57 and 58 extended from the elevator housing 22 and the upper end of the-shaft is connected to the chute 21, which is suspended from the upper end of the elevator by a chain 59 which extends from an arm 60.

Upon turning the crank 2!) the shaft 19 is rotated to tum the chute 21 whereby the outer end of the chute is accurately positioned over one of the bins 61 as illustrated in Figure 2 and when the chute is in position over a bin the contact 381 engages one of the lcontact arms 18 which completes a circuit to. one of the lights 16, and with the light connected to the Contact arm that corresponds with the bin the operator may readily determinev which bin the chute is positioned over and also when the chute is in position 'on the center of the bin.

The wires 17 are shown in Figure 4 extending through openings in both sides of the housing, however, it will be understood that the wires extend through a single opening 61 and are combined in a single conduit 62.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: l

In a switch for a rotary elevator chute, a housing, a shaft projecting into said housing and having a rotor i thereon, a contact arm of insulated material mounted on the upper end of said shaft, a plurality of Contact mem bers mounted in said housing, wires having one end connested to said contact members and their other ends connected to a battery of lights, a base secured within said housing at the bottom thereof and having an annular ange extending upwardly from the outer edge thereof, spaced apart blocks mounted on said ange and having said contact members secured thereto, adjusting screws extending through intermediate portions of said Contact members and engaging said rotor, springs urging said contact members into engagement with a contact on said contact arm, a contact piece arranged above said contact arm, a stem extending upwardly fromsaid housing, a wire leading from said stem to a source of electrical energy, a sheave on the lower end of said shaft, means for rotating said sheave and said elevator chute sirrlultaneously,k said means comprising a crank for positioning said chute and for driving the sheave, a shaft extending between said rotary chute and said crank, a pulley on said last named shaft, and an endless belt trained over said pulley and over said sheave whereby theA respective light indicates the position of the chute.

References Cited in the fileof this patent Shotwell Oct. 9, 1917 

